Management of Patients with Impaired Capacity

Management of Patients with Impaired Capacity

Patients with impaired decision-making capacity cannot make informed decisions about their healthcare due to factors such as cognitive impairment, mental illness, or physical limitations. In such cases, healthcare providers must follow certain guidelines to ensure these patients receive appropriate care. The first step in managing patients with impaired decision-making capacity is to assess their decision-making capacity. This involves evaluating their ability to understand the relevant information, appreciate the consequences of their decisions, and communicate their choices (Pel-Little et al., 2021). Suppose the patient is found to lack decision-making capacity, healthcare providers must seek out surrogate decision-makers, such as family members or court-appointed guardians, to make decisions on their behalf.

In cases where no surrogate decision-maker is available, healthcare providers must act in the patient’s best interests, taking into account their values, preferences, and past decisions (Saperia et al., 2019). This may involve consulting with a multidisciplinary team, including psychiatrists, social workers, and ethics committees.

Treatment options for patients with impaired decision-making capacity depend on the underlying condition and the severity of their impairment. Medications, psychotherapy, and rehabilitation programs may address cognitive or mental health issues, while physical therapy and assistive devices may be used to address physical limitations (Saperia et al., 2019). Sometimes, patients may require institutional care, such as placement in a nursing home or assisted living facility.

Regular evaluation of patients with impaired decision-making capacity is also essential to ensure their treatment is effective and appropriate. This may involve ongoing assessments of their cognitive and functional abilities, monitoring of medication side effects, and regular communication with surrogate decision-makers (Saperia et al., 2019).

In conclusion, managing patients with impaired decision-making capacity is a complex and multifaceted process that requires careful assessment, consultation, and ongoing evaluation. Healthcare providers must follow established guidelines and work collaboratively with patients, families, and other care team members to ensure that patients receive the best possible care.

References

Pel-Littel, R. E., Snaterse, M., Teppich, N. M., Buurman, B. M., van Etten-Jamaludin, F. S., van Weert, J., … & Scholte op Reimer, W. J. (2021). Barriers and facilitators for shared decision making in older patients with multiple chronic conditions: a systematic review. BMC geriatrics, 21(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-021-02050-y

Saperia, S., Da Silva, S., Siddiqui, I., Agid, O., Daskalakis, Z. J., Ravindran, A., … & Foussias, G. (2019). Reward-driven decision-making impairments in schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Research, 206, 277-283. https://doi.org/10.1016/

ORDER A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE

We’ll write everything from scratch

Refusal to give reasons for refusing beneficial treatment has been seen as pointing to the absence of decision-making capacity. However, the reasons given for this are either unsatisfactory or insufficient to eliminate cases of genuine uncertainty. It cannot be concluded that such patients are incompetent. However, there are reasons to treat them as if they were. The basis of this possibility points to several obligations for clinicians before such a situation can be said to exist. (Palacios GJ, Pinto P, Marquez O, Herreros B. 2020).”

Management of Patients with Impaired Capacity

At my last place of work, the physician examined the ability of patients to reach a conclusion based on the initial admission assessment as a yardstick. If deterioration in cognitive ability is noted, the patient is referred to the in-house psychiatrist. Most of the time, they are prescribed medication by the psychiatrist and participate in other activities such as group therapy or supervised walks on campus. They are evaluated on a regular basis. Most of them do well on medication and are treated and discharged home.
Discuss how patients with impaired capacity are managed at your workplace.